Neerim keep their premiership dream alive with victory

Division 1:
Drouin 93 def by Neerim District 4/98

A fortnight ago Neerim were fighting to stay off the bottom of the ladder, now they’re heading into their first division 1 grand final in two decades. 

Losing the toss and bowling, the Stags’ red-hot form with the Kookaburra continued from the outset, as Dane Fawcett and Toby Bayne quickly went to work. On a Bellbird Park pitch that has offered something for bowlers all season, it was evident that this was to be Neerim’s day as both Alex Gaudion (4) and Josh Maric (4) failed to make an impact opening the innings. 

Jake Harper (4) was the next to go, as Fawcett (2-28) claimed his second scalp, before Toby Bayne feasted on the Hawks middle-order. 

Aaron Paxton (2), Sam Van Der Zalm (1), Trevor Gardiner (1) and Paul Timewell (3) all fell to the burly right-armer, Bayne’s five-wicket haul coming with the game barely even 20 overs old, as Drouin slipped to 6-24.

You can never count out Drouin’s bottom-order, however and the tail once again fought hard to keep the home side alive. 

Mitch Smith (25) and Troy Lehman (13) looked threatening as they added 33, but a quick double strike from Ben Lockett (1-13) and Kody Wilson (1-10) snuffed out the momentum. Danny Sheehan (1-0) marked his return to the top grade with the final wicket, that of Simon Gardiner (14), as Drouin were all out for a meagre 93. 

In reply, Neerim lost Riley Ferguson (2) early to put a few nerves through the Stags’ dressing room after their capitulation at this ground last year, was the same about to occur?

Rhys George and Aaron Fawcett answered that question, as they grinded Drouin into the dust.

With 36 overs scheduled to bat in the day, the pair didn’t give their opponents an inch, George proved to be the more aggressive of the two, but the duo were incredibly resilient in their pursuit, ensuring Drouin’s hopes were dashed before they left the field on day 1. 

Neerim reached the end of the day 1-70, with the game well and truly over, Sunday proved to be a day of celebration for the visitors.

Simon Gardiner (3-28) was able to break through late, as Fawcett (28) couldn’t see his side home and despite two more wickets falling with just two runs to make, Neerim got home with ease, George (50*) the hero as Neerim’s dream was kept alive. 

Hallora 150 def Western Park 94

A spin-bowling clinic from star man Natsai M’Shangwe has seen Hallora defeat rivals Western Park on the weekend. 

Winning the toss and batting, the Kangas looked shaky early, as Sam Batson had the ball on a string in the first few overs. The leading bowler in the regular season removed the in-form Grant Duncan (1) and Damon Healy (10) via knicks, as an unusually fast Western Park pitch meant wickets and runs both flowed.

Hallora took the brunt with the new ball, as they slipped to 3-27. Aidan Phillips and Brett Williams rebuilt the innings, as Phillips in particular lashed boundaries with ease, as the visitors looked to press home their advantage. 

Phillips (33) and Williams (19) pushed the score north of 70 before both fell to Joel Batson (2-44) in quick time. Natsai M’Shangwe (17) rode his luck before falling on the stroke of tea, as the game was well and truly in the balance at 6-91.

Sam Whibley (12) was the next to go, cruelly run out, before it was up to Liam Serong and Craig Byrnes to snatch back the ascendency. 

Serong (27) looked right at home, his stroke-play turning the tide somewhat, as the pair added 43 before Sam Russell (2-13) and Sam Batson (4-36) cleaned up the remaining wickets in quick time to have Hallora all out for a par score of 150. 

With 15 overs left to bat in the day, the key was clearly M’Shangwe and he struck almost straight away, removing Sam Batson (8) before the close of play as Jack Armour and Leigh Diston saw the

Warriors through to stumps at 1-32, with everything to play for on day two. 

The second day of the riveting encounter was all Hallora from the outset, a simply dominant day which shows why they will be favourites next week. 

M’Shangwe spun his web early, removing Leigh Diston (7) and Jack Armour (18) in the first several overs as the procession of Western Park batsmen walking back to the sheds began. Joel Batson (10) and Jason Croft (9) couldn’t add much to the scoreboard, before the key wicket of wounded man Sanjaya Gangodawila (15) all but ended the home sides’ hopes. 

All that was left to do for the Zimbabwean international was clean up and that he did, to the tune of 6-38, as Western Park’s finals failures continued, Hallora ultimately winning comfortably by 56 runs.